Plate holder



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hired States 3,677,32 Patented Feb. l2, 1953 3,077,362 PLATE HOLDERLouis l. Hosbein, Glencoe, lll., assigner to M. H. Detrick Company,Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 3e, 1959, Ser. No.$92,897 S Claims. (Cl. 29d-87) My invention relates to means for, andmethod of, placing one or more metal plates within the interior of abrick mold cavity prior to the molding of the brick.

An object of my invention is to provide a means for, and method of,placing metal plates within the interior of a brick mold cavity prior tothe filling of the mold with aggregate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for, and method of,disposing metal plates within the interior of a brick prior tocompression of the brick. A still further object of my invention is toprovide a means for, and method of, disposing metal plates within theinterior of a brick prior to molding of said brick and withoutdistortion of said metal plates.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for, and method of,placing metal spacer plates within the interior of a brick prior tomolding of the brick and without need for an exterior metal band aroundsaid brick.

While bricks have been made with metal `spacer plates therein, noeconomical and expeditious method has here tofore been known wherebysuch spacer plates may be easily and efficiently placed within theinterior of a 1orick mold cavity prior to the introduction of brickaggregate into the mold cavity. In the usual method of introducing metalspacer plates within the interior of a brick, it has been customary toforce the plates into the aggregate after the mold cavity has beenfilled with brick aggregate. This results in warping and distortion ofthe spacer plates with resultant tendency of spalling of the brick inthe areas wherein the plates are bent or distorted.

My invention overcomes these dir'iiculties and provides a means forquickly and economically placing metal plates within the interior of abrick prior to molding thereof.

My invention also provides a means for, and method of, disposing metalplates within the interior of a brick during the process of forming saidbrick without interrupting the cyclic operation of the brick moldingmachine,

Other advantages brought about by my invention will become apparent fromthe following specific description thereof in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing co-moldcd brick with outline inphantom;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of plate holder fixture with plates showingfixture within brick mold cavity prior to addition of brick aggregate;

FlG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2, but after aggregate has been added;

FlG. i is the same as FIG. 3 showing leased position;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of brick in mold cavity aftercompression;

PIG. 6 is a plan view of placement fixture and plates in mold cavity;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation taken along line 8-8 of 1G. 7 showing thehandle ends;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of stationary first plate holdingcomb or jaw;

plates in re- FIG. 10 is a. fragmentary side elevational view of hesecond plate holding comb or jaw;

FIG. 11 is a perspective of the plate holder with plates;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the magnetic placement fixture with plates;

FIG. 13 is a View taken along line 13-13 of FlG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another modication of a plate holder;

FIG. 15 is a section taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a section taken along line l-16 of FIG. l5;

FIG. 17 is a section taken along line l7-1i7 of FlG. 15; and

FIG. 18 is a section taken along line 1S-13 of FIG. 15.

Referring now -to the drawings, FIG. l shows a perspective view of aco-molded brick 2d having plates 2l therein. The plates 21 may be solid,perforated or expanded metal.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of my plate holder fixture which is generallydesignated as 22. in this view the fixture is shown with plates in theholder, said holder being within a brick mold cavity 23 prior to theintroduction of aggregate into the cavity. Top and bottom plungers 24compress the brick aggregate in the process of molding the brick. Afiller box 25 is shown in dot and dash outline in FlGS. 2 and 3; saidbox being the means for placing a measured amount of aggregate in thebrick mold cavity 23.

Referring more particularly to FlG. l1, my plate holder comprises aframe 26 to which is rigidly attached handle members 27. A first plateholding comb 28 is rigidly attached to the handle members 27 and to theframe 26. Said comb is provided with generally U-shaped slots 29' forthe reception of plates 2. The first plate holding comb or jaw haselongated slots 3d (FIG. 9) to provide for adjustable attachment of thecomb to frame 25 and handle member 2.7.

A pair of second plate holding combs or jaws 31 (FIG. 10) is provided.Said jaws 31 are attached to the distal end of lever means 32. Levermeans 32 and combs or jaws 31 are pivotally connecte-:1 with the frame26 by means of a pin 33. Compression spring means 34 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6)are provided between handle members 27 and lever means 32 to hold thesecond plate holding combs or jaws in a vertical position as best shownin FIGS. 2 and l1. Second plate holding combs or jaws 31 have benerallyU-shaped slots 29 for the reception of plates 21. Said U-shaped slotsform vertically disposed lingers 39 having vertically disposed flatsurfaces 35 for reception of metal plates across their face. Lips 35 maybe provided at the terminal portion of said fingers and said U-shapedslots in order to more effectively hold the plates in position duringthe loading operation (FIG. 10).

My plate holder operates in the following manner:

Lever 32 is held in the closed position, best shown in FIG. 4. In thisposition the second plate holding jaw or comb means 31 has rotated aboutthe pin 33 so as to move the flat surfaces 35 of second plate holdingjaws or combs away from the flat surfaces 35 of the first plate holdingcomb or jaw 2d. The plates 2i are then placed in the holder so that onesurface 35 thereof is against the vertical surface of the U-shaped slotof the first plate holding comb or jaw 28 and against the verticalsurface 3S of the U-shaped slots of the second plate holding comb or jaw31, as shown in FGS. 2 .and 11. The lever is then allowed to open bymeans of pressure er:- erted by the spring means 34 so that lever means32 and its associated second plate holding comb or jaw 31 rotates aboutpin 33, so that the second plate holding comb or jaw will press themetal plates 2l against the inside vertical surfaces 35 of the U-shapedslots 29 of first holding plate comb or jaw 2d as well as against thevertical surfaces 35 of slots 29 of second plate holding comb or jaw3J..

The plate holder with the plates now rigidly in position is introducedinto the mold cavity 23, as best shown in FIG. 2. The filler box 25 isnow brought forward to fill the mold cavity 23 with aggregate 37, asshown in FIG. 3.

As shown in these and other views, the plate holder and filler box issupported by the top 38 of the brick molding machine.

A prior molded brick 20l is pushed forward upon the top 33 of the brickmolding machine by filler box 25 at the same time that the mold cavity23 is being filled.

After the mold has been filled with aggregate, lever 32. is then raisedas shown in FIG. 4 whereby it rotates second plate holding combs or jaws31 about the pin 33 whereby to retract the second plate holding combsurfaces 35 away from the plates 21 whereby to free said plates from thegrip of said plate holder.

The plate holder is now raised yvertically and withdrawn from theaggregate filled mold cavity leaving the metal plates evenly distributedwithin the mold cavity 23. Plungers 24 are then actuated to compress thebrick aggregate with the metal plates therein to form a comolded brick20. Y

In a second but preferred embodiment of my invention (FIGS. 1448) agenerally U-shaped frame 40 is provided. Attached to said frame or as acontinuous portion thereof is a depending comb member or jaw 41, `saidcomb member or jaw having a U-shaped slot therein generally designatedas 42. The end depending portions of said comb members or jaws formfingers 43. Second finger means 44 are movably attached to the U-shapedframe y40` to lie adjacent the lingers 43. n Elliptical openings 45 areprovided in the frame 4t) for the attachment of second linger means 44in such manner that said second finger means 44 are free to movelaterally within the U-shaped slot 42. It is apparent of course thatthese second linger means 44 may be so attached that they will slideIback and forth on the frame 40 when pressure is applied or they may beso attached so that they will swing about their point of attachment 45in the manner of a pendulum. Comb members or jaws 41 may be attached tothe frame 4d in any suitable manner such as by bolts and nuts or screwsas shown at 46.

A cam member 47 is suspended through the frame 46 by means of a shaft48. Said cam and shaft are held in position by means of -bosses 49 and50 provided on the cam 47 and lever 51 respectively. Said levers 51 areattached at their distal ends to the shaft 43 by means of the boss 49 asshown in FIGURE 14.

Upon rotation of the lever members 51 outwardly from each other as shownby the dotted lines in FIG. 14, the cam members 47 will rotate on theiraxes so that the external surfaces of the cam members will turn awayfrom said linger means 44.

Upon movement of the lever members 51 into the closed position (as shownby solid lines in FIG. 14) the cam members will rotate to the closedposition best shown in FIG. 15, so that the outer edge surfaces of the-cam members will move toward the inner edge surfaces yof second fingermeans 44.

Lever members 51 are preferably held in a closed position by springmeans not shown. In operation, the lever members 51 are tu-rned to theopen position, thu-s releasing any pressure which the cam may haveexerted against second nger means 44. Metal plates 21 are then insertedin the slots between the lingers 43, second finger means 44 and the carn member 47.

Lever members 51 are .then moved toward each other causing the cammembers to rotate on their axes so that the outer edge surfaces of thecams press against the plates which `have -been inserted ybetween thecam members and the inner surfaces of second linger means 44.

This pressure is then transmitted to lsecond finger means 44 causingthem to move laterally toward fingers 43 thus exerting pressure on theplates between the surfaces of the fingers 43 and the second fingermeans 44.

Due to this c-amming action and the exertion of pressure by the cam onthe second linger means 44- and the transmission of this pressureagainst the plate-s which are in the slots between the second fingermeans 44 and first finger means 43, the plates are held rigidly inposition.

The plate holder with the plates 2-1 in position is ,nowplaced in theinterior of `a brick mold cavity. As described labove, the mold cavityis now filled with aggregate. `I

The lever members or handles are now moved to the open position therebyrotating the cams on their raxes so as to release the pressure againstthe plates leaving them free in the mold cavity. p j A' The plate holderis now removed from the mold cavity, and the brick co-molded asdescribed above.

As shown in FIG. 1 5, the edge surfaces of cam 47, second linger means44 and the interior surfaces of fingers 43 are serrated. While thismaybe desirable in some instances, l have found that the pressureexerted by cam 47 is great enough so that such serrations lareunnecessary.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another modification :of my invention. Handlemembers S2 are rigidly attached to plate holding combs or jaws 53.Attached to and between said handle members 52 is an electromagnet 54,having a core 55. The plate holding combs or jaws `are provided with aplurality of fingers 56. Said plate holding combs and their lingers 56are electromagnetically connected to the electromagnet 54. Uponenergization of the magnet 54, the internal and external faces offingers 56 will become magnetized. Met-al plates 21 are then placedacross the vertical surfaces of fingers 56, as shown in FIG. 13.

The energized plate holder with plates attached is then' placed in theinterior of an empty brickV mold cavity. After the cavity is lled withaggregate the electromagnet 54 -is deenergized, thereby demagnetizingthe faces of the lingers 56 to release plates 21 from said lingers.

The plate holder is then removed `from the' mold cavity and the brick`co-molded as described above.

In certain instances it may `be desirable to provide shielding means 57between the table surface 38 and the handle means of the plate holder inorder to minimize dissipation of electromagnetic forces generated by theelectromagnet 54 and placed upon the plate holder 53.

Although not shown, it is apparent that the plates may be held inposition on fingers 56 by utilizing a vacuum `across the vertical facesof fingers 56. In this yform of the invention, the plates are held inposition by the uti-liza` tion of negative air pressure and are releasedprior to removal of the plate holder by venting the vertical surfaces oflingers 56 to atmospheric pressure.

While I have described certain preferred embodiments of rny invention,many modications thereof may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention; and I do not wish to be limited to the specicstructures herein shown and described, Ibut desire to avail myself ofall variances which come ywithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for placing metal plates in a brick mold cavity prior tointroduction of aggregate into the same comprising a frame member, aplurality of plate engaging jaws each having a plurality of plateengaging fingers depending therefrom in spaced relation longitudinallyof said jaw, certain of said fingers being mounted for limited edgewisemovement longitudinally of said jaw toward and away from adjacentfingers, a cam mounted on `said jaw between said lingers having -limitedmovement for rotation into and out of plate clamping position relativethereto, and a lever connected with said cam to rotate said camresponsive to movement of said lever.

2. A tool for placing metal plates in a brick mold cavity prior tointroduction of aggregate into the same comprising a frame member and aplate engaging jaw mounted on said frame member, said jaw having aplurality of depending plate engaging fingers thereon, said lingersbeing liat faced, aligned edgewise and having Vertical plate engagingside edges, certain of said fingers being mounted for limited edgewisemovement longitudinally of said jaw toward and away from adjacentlingers, a cam mounted in said jaw between said lingers having limitedmovement for rotation into and out of plate clamping position relativethereto, and a lever connected with said cam to rotate said camresponsive to movement of said lever.

3. A tool for placing metal plates in a brick mold cavity prior tointroduction of aggregate into the same comprising a frame member and aplate engaging jaw mounted on said frame member, said jaw having aplurality of depending plate engaging lingers thereon, said lingersbeing liat faced, aligned edgewise and having vertical plate engagingside edges, said fingers including a pair of fixed end lingers, a pairof fingers adjacent thereto mounted for limited edgewise movement towardand laway from said end lingers, a central cam mounted on said jawbetween said lingers having limited movement for rotation into and outof plate clamping position relative thereto, and a lever connected withsaid cam to rotate said cam responsive to movement of said lever.

4. A tool for placing metal plates in a brick mold cavity prior tointroduction of aggregate into the same comprising a frame member and aplate engaging jaw mounted on said frame member, said jaw having aplurality of depending plate engaging fingers thereon, said fingersbeing at faced, aligned edgewise and having vertical plate engaging sideedges, said lingers including a pair of fixed end lingers, a pair offingers adjacent thereto mounted for limited edgewise movement towardand away from said end lingers and a central cam member mounted on saidjaw between said movable fingers for rotation between a position topress plates mounted between said cam member and movable lingers againstthe vertical side edges thereof and crowd said lingers toward said endlingers and a plate releasing position.

5. A tool for placing metal plates in ya brick mold cavity prior tointroduction of aggregate into the same comprising a frame member and aplate engaging jaw mounted on said frame member, said jaw having a bodyportion U-shaped in cross section having a plurality of depending plateengaging lingers thereon, said lingers being flat faced, alignededgewi-se 4and having vertical plate engaging side edges, said lingersincluding a pair of lixed end fingers, a pair of lingers adjacentthereto mounted on said body portion for limited edgewise movementtoward and away from said end lingers and -a central cam member mountedon said body portion between said movable lingers for rotation between aposition to Ypress plates mounted between said cam member and movablelingers against the vertical side edges thereof and crowd said lingerstoward said end lingers and a plate releasing position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS458,614 Buddenberg Sept. l, 1891 790,411 Watrous May 23, 1905 1,188,270Hanson June 20, 1916 2,247,376 Heuer July 1, 1941 2,379,596 Seamans July3, 1945 2,548,343 Brown Apr. 10, 1951 2,673,373 Heuer Mar. 30, 19542,723,875 Russell Nov. 15, 1955 2,732,607 Dodd Ian. 31, 1956 2,901,807Helmerson Sept. 1, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES German application Serial No.Sch 15297, printed October 27, 1955 (KSOa 5), 3 pp. spec., 1 sht. dwg.

1. A TOOL FOR PLACING METAL PLATES IN A BRICK MOLD CAVITY PRIOR TOINTRODUCTION OF AGGREGATE INTO THE SAME COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER, APLURALITY OF PLATE ENGAGING JAWS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF PLATEENGAGING FINGERS DEPENDING THEREFROM IN SPACED RELATION LONGITUDINALLYOF SAID JAW, CERTAIN OF SAID FINGERS BEING MOUNTED FOR LIMITED EDGEWISEMOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID JAW TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ADJACENTFINGERS, A CAM MOUNTED ON SAID JAW BETWEEN SAID FINGERS HAVING LIMITEDMOVEMENT FOR ROTATION INTO AND OUT OF PLATE CLAMPING POSITION RELATIVETHERETO, AND A LEVER CONNECTED WITH SAID CAM TO ROTATE SAID CAMRESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER.